Aim and background: While the importance of morale is well researched in the nursing literature, strategies and interventions are not so prolific. The complexities of interpersonal relationships within the clinical domain, and the critical issues faced by nurses on a daily basis, indicate that morale, job satisfaction and motivation are essential components in improving workplace efficiency, output and communication amongst staff. Drawing on educational, organizational and psychological literature, this paper argues that the ability to inspire morale in staff is a fundamental indicator of sound leadership and managerial characteristics.
Evaluation and key issues: Four practical concepts that could be implemented in the clinical setting are proposed. These include: role preparation for managers, understanding internal and external motivation, fostering internal motivation in nursing staff, and the importance of attitude when investing in relationships.

Copyright 2007 Blackwell Publishing. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Boosting morale and improving performance in the nursing setting, Journal of Nursing Management, Volume 15, Issue 8, pages 811–816, November 2007, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2934.2007.00745.x